Fast unfolding two-layer temporary flooring structure

ABSTRACT

A fast unfolding two-layer temporary flooring structure consisting of preferably rigid plates ( 1  to  6 ), made of a suitable material. The plates ( 1  to  6 ) are arranged mutually parallel and cascade-linked by an articulated linking element (B) so that between two consecutive plates, the element (B) is linked to an edge of the other plates, and also preferably in a central zone of the other plate, the elements defining hinge lines between parallel planes with longitudinal or transverse axis of the plates.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a temporary dual-layer rapid-deploymentground-covering structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to propose a structure formed from panels,for example rectangular, formed of rigid individual plates made fromplastic or composite material, able to be deployed easily and rapidly soas to form a temporary surface or track for storing products or formovement for vehicles.

To this end, the object of the invention is a temporary dual-layerrapid-deployment ground-covering structure formed from plates,preferably rigid, made from suitable material, characterised in that thesaid plates are disposed parallel to each other and are connectedtogether in cascade by a connecting element articulated so that, betweentwo consecutive plates, the said element is connected firstly to oneedge of one of the plates and secondly and preferably in a central areaof the other plate, the said element defining inter-plate articulationaxes parallel to the longitudinal or transverse axis of the plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate schematically a first embodiment;

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the deployment of the plates 1-6 of FIG. 1 in orderto arrive at the double-dashed covering layer of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate a second embodiment; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The plates 1 to 6 are for example rectangular, identical and parallel toeach other.

FIG. 1 depicts the storage position of the structure and FIG. 2 theposition deployed on the ground with the letters A and B denoting therespective ends of each plate in each of the positions.

The plates 1 to 6 are connected by a flexible band B fixed successivelyto a half-face of each plate and preferably over its entire length.

Between two consecutive plates, the band 12 defines an articulatedconnecting area L forming a hinge and connecting the edge of one plateto the central part of the following plate.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate the deployment of the plates 1 to 6 of FIG. 1 inorder to arrive at the double-covering layer of FIG. 2, where the platesare superimposed in a staggered manner and are all aligned in the samedirection, which is parallel for example to the transverse axis of theband 12 completely deployed and sandwiched between the two layers ofplates, moreover practically contiguous.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another variant in which the articulatedconnecting element is a hinge C, one element of which is fixed to theedge of a plate 1 and the other element of which is fixed to theassociated plate 2, in its central part.

The hinge C is a single one and extends over the entire width (orlength) of the plate 2 or is formed from several individual alignedelements.

FIG. 8 illustrates a variant in which the plates of the bottom layer(the odd plates) 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 are offset longitudinally withrespect to the (even) plates 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 of the top layer. In thisease, the connecting elements, for example, of the hinges C do notextend over the entire length of the plates but only opposite theoverlapping areas.

This makes it possible (FIG. 9) to position two covering structures sideby side and contiguous whilst having a partial overlapping of onestructure (N^(o) 1) by the other structure (N^(o) 2). Thus there doesnot exist, between the structures 1 and 2, any area of lesser strengthbecause of the offset of the top layer of the plates with respect to thebottom, in the two axes respectively of the plates. directions definedby the longitudinal and transverse

A reversible mechanical locking can be provided between the twostructures 1 and 2, for example between the bottom plates of onestructure and the top plates of the second structure, in order toguarantee good positioning of the structures and perfect connectionbetween them.

1. A temporary dual-layer rapid-deployment ground-covering structureformed from a plurality of plates made from suitable material, whereinsaid plurality of plates are disposed parallel to each other andconnected to each other in cascade by an articulated connecting elementso that, between two consecutive plates, said connecting element isconnected firstly to an edge of only one of said two consecutive platesand secondly to a central area of another one of said plates, each saidconnecting element defining inter-plate articulation axes parallel to alongitudinal or transverse axis of the plurality of plates, and whereinsaid articulated connecting element is a single continuous flexible bandthat connects to all of said plural plates.
 2. The structure as claimedin claim 1, wherein said plurality of plates are rigid.
 3. A temporarydual-layer rapid-deployment ground-covering structure, comprising:plural identical rectangular plates having opposing first and secondends; and an articulated connecting element connecting two adjacent onesof said plural plates, said plural plates being movable from a firstposition wherein each of said plural plates is stacked one on another toa second position wherein first ones of said plural plates are coplanarand remaining ones of said plural plates are parallel to said first onesof said plural plates and coplanar with each other, said plural platesbeing in a dual layer configuration that is placed on the ground in saidsecond position with a respective first end of one of said first ones ofsaid plural plates overlying a corresponding second end of one of saidremaining ones of said plural plates, wherein said articulatedconnecting element is a single continuous flexible band that connects toall of said plural plates.
 4. A temporary dual-layer rapid-deploymentground-covering structure, comprising: plural identical rectangularplates having opposing first and second ends; and an articulatedconnecting element connecting two adjacent ones of said plural plates,said plural plates being movable from a first position wherein each ofsaid plural plates is stacked one on another to a second positionwherein first ones of said plural plates are coplanar and remaining onesof said plural plates are parallel to said first ones of said pluralplates and coplanar with each other, said plural plates being in a duallayer configuration that is placed on the ground in said second positionwith a respective first end of one of said first ones of said pluralplates overlying a corresponding second end of one of said remainingones of said plural plates, wherein the plural plates are connected toeach other in cascade by a respective said articulated connectingelement so that, between two consecutive plates, said connecting elementis connected to said one edge of one of said plural plates and connectedto a center of a second one of said plural plates.
 5. The structure asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said articulated connecting element is asingle continuous flexible band that connects to all of said pluralplates.
 6. The structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said articulatedconnecting element includes plural hinges that connect two respectiveadjacent ones of said plural plates.
 7. A temporary dual-layerrapid-deployment ground-covering structure, comprising: at least fiveidentical plates each having first and second opposing ends; and aconnecting element connecting two adjacent ones of said plates, saidplates forming a dual-layer structure by first, third and fifth ones ofsaid plates being coplanar, first ends of second and fourth ones of saidplates overlying second ends of said first, third and fifth ones of saidplates and being coplanar with each other, wherein the plates areconnected to each other in cascade by a respective said connectingelement so that, between two consecutive plates, said connecting elementis connected to one edge of one of said plates and connected to a centerof a second one of said plates, and wherein said articulated connectingelement is a single continuous flexible band that connects to all ofsaid plural plates.
 8. The structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidarticulated connecting element includes plural hinges that connect tworespective adjacent ones of said plural plates.